I have nothing to say, but start to complain about nothng.
Characters (C) Sega
Kiba (C) Me
Shadow Jet (C) Babylon Sky Hawk
Ch. 16: Shadow Jet
I was eagerly awaiting Storm and Kiba to arrive. I wondered what Storm said to Cream. He better not have revealed my crush on her or he'd be in a world of hurt! By hurt, I mean sting him with stinger at least fifty times before something bad happens. Night fell, making me itchy. Storm usually was late as Wave always complained over. Honestly, I thought worrying about someone being late was useless. So what? As long as you reach your destination, you're find in my book.
Jet tapped his fingers along his wooden desk. Wave was using her super computer orb to analyze some data about the Ark of the Cosmos. Looking agrivated, Jet slammed his fist down onto the table that made us flinch.
"They're late!" he cried. "What's taking Storm and Kiba so long anyway?"
As if on cue, Storm and Kiba came bursting into the room. Well, Storm did. Kiba just leaned against the door edge, looking quite bored. Her glasses nearly slipped off her nose when she ran in.
"Sorry, Boss!" Storm panted, halting at his leader's desk.
Jet stood up. Waving his arm in the air, he barked, "You're late!"
"But we brought back something good." Storm placed the purple and red Arks of the Cosmos on Jet's table.
Smiling, Jet grabbed them to inspect if they were real. Finally, Jet had his usual relaxed face on that he had before this...incident. "Not bad, guys, not bad."
Storm smiled at the compliment, looking quite pleased. Kiba just shrugged it off and turned the volume of her music up. Did she even realize that the situation could become deadly if Jet got angry?
"Jet," Wave started, glancing around towards him.
"What is it?" Jet asked, facing her.
"I've found a passage in this ancient Babylonian text that has me wondering." She pressed a passage on the screen, making it grow larger. "I'll try to paraphrase it slowly enough for you to follow."
Jet slammed his fist on the table. Pointing an accusing finger at the frightened swallow, he bellowed, "You dare insult your leader? I'm Jet the Hawk! Nobody controls me and lives!"
Wave gasped, looking at me.
"Jet, calm down," I said, floating over to him. I tried to touch his shoulder, but he pulled away.
"Wave was just kidding, Boss," Storm added. "She always messes with me," he muttered the last part grimly to himself.
Snarling, Jet slammed back into his chair. He glared at the door, then glanced over to Wave. "Hmph! Let's hear it."
Wave looked at the ground, closed her eyes, and waited.
"You gonna talk, or do I have to make you?!"
Like a soldier at war, Wave stood up straight and began to read. "We've reached our decision. We must sever the engine units from the vessel. If we delay, the contraction between the engine units will form a lightless black, comsuming everything in it's path."
Looking mild, Jet raised his fist. "Lightless black? What the heck does that mean?"
Wave shrugged. "Who can say? What are your thoughts?"
"How should I know?!" Jet snapped, waving his hands in the air as if praising something stupid.
Glaring at Jet, I muttered, "No need for that..."
However, Jet apparantly had superior hearing. He stood up calmly and closed his eyes. Seeming fine, Jet smiled over towards me with his eyes in slits. "Charmy, care to repeat that?"
I flew a few inches back. Jet was terrifying me with his icy glare. His irises were blood-shot red, and his feathers were a darker shade of emerald. His white chest feathers were morphing into jet black like Shadow's fur. Worst of all, his pupils were gone, making him appear to be a demon. His glare appeared to have softened, but his looks sure haven't. I dared not to repeat my statement.
Jet was approaching me, rather slowly. The hawk stopped at least a yard away. His grin was placid, yet had a comtempting feature on it that made me twitch. The Extreme Gear master raised out his Ark.
"Charmy, know what this is?" he asked.
Staring at him as if he grew a third arm, I quipped in a retarded voice, "Duuh, an Ark of da Cosmos?"
"Correct, for once."
"So, why ask him that?" Kiba asked.
Ignoring Kiba's rather dull question, Jet stared at me quizically. "Do you know what it controls?"
"...Gravity?"
For no good reason at all, Jet used Gravity Control on me! He changed the gravity around me so that I was blown back into the wall. Wave, Storm, and Kiba were pushed back a few feet, but Kiba was blown out into the hallway. I was propelled, no, embedded into the wall so that I could hardly breathe.
Jet growled at me. What scared me was that he was floating on his own. Jet looked like Shadow when he had amnesia, all alone yet angry over everything. Not that I would blame him. If my rival was setting me up, I'd be like that too. Jet floated over to me. Being embedded to the wall, I was helpless.
Sniggering, Jet glanced over towards the other Rogues. "Sad, really. Maybe if you were brought to us in the first place, you wouldn't be such a freak."
"What's...what's the mean?" I gasped since the gravity was starting to take my oxygen away.
"All I'm saying, is that the Vector and Espio deserved to die."
...No. No. That's wrong. He's wrong. Vector and Espio had no right to just die! They were my family! They were my father and brother! I was grateful for them. I probably would've died on the streets if Vector hadn't found me. Tears propped my eyes. My teeth began to grind, and my eyes could've changed if they wanted too.
"I wouldn't be talking," I snarled, looking exactly like Jet. "when your father killed your mother."
Reeling back a step, I could tell Jet hadn't expected me to retort. Niether did I. "You bastard...I will kill you!" Jet lunged at me with his hands around his throat, sucking the life out of me.
"Boss, stop!" Storm shouted, dragging Jet away.
Jet stood up. He growled at me before sitting back down. Looking rather disinterested, Jet looked at a frozen Wave. "Wave, create an Ark-finding device so we can collect the rest of the-" Jet reached out for his Arks of the Cosmos on his desk, but they were gone! Gaping, Jet leaped out of his seat, hands slapping at his desk in a dazed fury. Jet looked at us in horror.
Behind Jet, Eggman's ship suddenly flew by. In Eggman's hands were the red and purple Arks of the Cosmos. Apparently, he dashed in here while Wave was blathering on about their Babylonian ancestors.
The hawk glared at Eggman with those blood red eyes. With a clenched fist, Jet snapped, "Why the dirty-! Sneak onto my ship will he?!" Facing Storm, he shouted, "Full speed ahead! Follow him!"
So, what happened to me? I snuck out while Jet's back was turned. There was only one person I could think of that could save Jet: Sonic. For some reason, everyone seemed to believe that Sonic could do anything. Okay, maybe he taunted the Chaotix a few times, but he saved us alot! Though, that one time we needed him, Sonic wasn't there to save us.
Riding my Extreme Gear, I went the opposite direction of the Babylon Rogues: west. Why would they care if I was gone? Wave, Storm and Kiba seemed pretty intent on listening to Jet's pathetic morals. At least Wave mocked him, but Jet screamed at her. And those looks. My word, that Ark is changing him! I don't know what to call him. Shadow Jet, I suppose. Yeah, Shadow Jet! That sounds like a good, evil name for such a freak. On the contrary, Shadow might kick my ass for using his name. So don't tell him or I'll get Chaos Blasted to four centuries into the future!
My Extreme Gear felt unusually wobbly, like I hit something. I guessed that it was the turmoil of thoughts arranging themselves in my mind. I wasn't okay, far from it. Vector told me that he always was nervous. Be it bills, date with Madam Vanilla, or just plain anxiety. He had a large responsibility as the leader of the Chaotix after Knuckles and Mighty ruefully left.
Heh, responsibility. Vector was the best leader in the world. But Jet. Jet was a very good leader, close to Vector. However, since he was younger and with adults, he had to grow up quickly. Just like me. Sure, I do act childish, but that's only because it's an act. I am like Vector with that nervousness, but I'm also like Jet with ambition. Jet hates failure along with Vector, but Vector was easy-going. That crocodile would just yell and then let everything slide in the wind. Jet would expose his dissapointment and be all pissy about it. With the setting sun as my guide in the far distance, I searched for Sonic and his friends.
"Where'd Jet say he and Wave found that Ark?" I thought, wracking my mind of possible locations. "Something with a G...Giga...Gigatic...No, Gigatic doesn't sound remotely right!"
The sun went down, shrouding me in darkness. A canyon was up ahead. I was deadbeat tired and starving. Food. I wanted, no, needed food! Thoughts of sugar plums or whatever those purple candies are danced in my head. A light shined in one of the canyon creveses. The crevese got larger as I approached. The image of Team Sonic, Amy, and Cream filled my orange eyes.
"Sonic!" I cried, flying down towards him. The speed I was going made me trip straight off my Extreme Gear and I toppled against the moutainside. Knuckles broke my fall by me landing on his head. Immediately, I flew off him and went towards Sonic.
Sonic patted my head. "Well, well, looky what we got here! What's up, Char-"
"You've got to help me!" I blurted, fear quivering in my voice.
"Hm? With what?"
I stared the ground. "Jet...he's not Jet anymore. He's changed in looks and personality!"
"Look?" Amy repeated. "You mean his feathers changed?"
I explained to them what happened on the airship. Sonic looked bewildered, like he wasn't expecting Jet to go all crazy. Cream shivered and held Cheese close. Amy comforted her to which Tails joined in. Much to my displeasure, of course. I helped comfort Cream, too, when I was finished.
Tails rubbed his chin. "Than it must be the Ark of the Cosmos..."
"Tails?" Knuckles questioned, looking at him.
"The Ark must be transforming Jet's very being, fabricating a Jet of its own. A new Jet, more evil." Tails stared over at a mural located on one of the walls. "Perhaps the ancient Babylonians forgot to mention that part."
"Babylonians?" I repeated, looking confused.
"I'll explain. See, these Arks came from outer space and-"
"THE BABYLON ROGUES ARE FROM SPACE?! THEY'RE ALIENS!" I screeched, shock overpowering me. I flew over behind Cream, cowering behind her.
"Charmy, shut up!" Knuckles shouted.
"Ah, go guard the Master Emerald," I muttered.
"Got Mighty and Ray to do. Unlike you, they're trustworthy."
That comment stung. Now, I knew how my own stinger felt against my fur. I stared at Knuckles somberly before gazing over at Tails. I urged him to continue with whatever genuis speech he was spouting.
"Um, anyways, the Babylonians crash-landed here during ancient times, so they had to release the engine units," Tails said, putting everything in a nutshell.
Flickering with realization, I cried, "Hey, that's what Wave found out!"
Sonic smirked. "Alright, so all we have to do is go find the Babylon Rogues, and we'll find Eggman. Don't worry, Charmy, Jet'll be back to normal very soon."
My mind suddenly made me do something strange. Before I knew it, I was on my hands and knees begging Sonic to fix Jet. Tears were pouring out of my eyes. All those tears of pain with a dash of confusion were coming loose. Cream rubbed my back, whispering that everything would be okay. I still don't know why I broke down and cried that day. Sonic gave me a spirit filled with hope; a feeling I hadn't felt for a long time. That long time ago that I couldn't even remember what month.
Cream hugged me, saying, "Charmy, I sure Mr. Jet will be okay!"
"Daaw," I whispered, hugging her back. I brushed her cheek with mine. "Thanks Cream."
Tails looked jealous and faced the other way.
"Hey, look there!" Amy shouted, pointing to the sky.
In the sky was Eggman's ship, followed by the Babylon Rogues' airship. I must've went East by accident. Curse the blindness of the sun! I never got those west, east directions. Both were heading towards Eggman's new pad: MeteoTech. The back of the Babylon Rogue's airship opened up to reveal Storm. Storm leaped out on his Extreme Gear to flag me over. I remained still, looking away. Knuckles got in front of Tails, Cream and I.
"What do you want, meathead?" Knuckles barked, putting up a fighting stance.
Storm growled at the insult. "I'm not here to see you, mutt. I'm here for Charmy."
"...I'm not going, Storm. I can't," I muttered.
"...Wh-what?"
"Storm, I can't go. You've seen Jet! You know what he'll do to me if I go back!"
"D-do?"
"Jet will kill me."
Storm stopped, staring at me wide-eyed. If it weren't for Storm telling Jet to back off, I probably wouldn't be here writing all this. Storm glanced around at the group. His eyes darted away from Amy since she had her Piko-Piko Hammer out. Storm stared at Cream since her arms were around my neck. Grinning, Storm began to chuckle.
"What's so fun-" Sonic demanded, before Storm gestured at me. "Charmy has a girlfriend!" he cried, laughing.
"I'll kill you all!" I shouted, lunging at Storm.
Storm grabbed my head, flicking me backwards.
"No fair!"
Cream blushed, but she was gazing longingly towards Tails. Tails' face was turning a soft pinkish red. I guess he couldn't stand the fact that Storm and Sonic-let me repeat that, Sonic-thought that Cream was with me. I wouldn't date her, yet. Honestly, I believed we were too young. Tails twirled a tail on his hand, looking aggrivated. Cheese was nudging him, smirking.
Storm gave a quiet sigh that Knuckles caught.
"What's wrong, stupi-" Knuckles shook his head. "I..I mean Storm."
Storm looked slightly touched. "Um, nothing. I-I'm just worried about Jet."
"Charmy was just crying over him," Sonic proclaimed.
"Shut up, you spiny idiot!" I thought, covering my face with my hands.
Storm smirked. "I'll send him my regards." He was just about to leave, but Cream called him down. "Yes, bunny? And this better not be about the babies issue."
Cream shook her head shyly. "No, sir, Mr. Albatross. I was just wondering about something."
"Yes?"
"Why do you follow such a mean man? When I last saw Mr. Jet he was so nice, but kinda greedy. From what Charmy says, he's all icky." She was close to crying. Her brown eyes seemed to enlarge whenever she was ready to cry, like me. "I don't want anyone to get hurt."
Storm froze. He couldn't think of a reply. He was about too, but sighed and glanced down. "Miss Cream, I'm sorry. Jet will be back to normal soon. He'll be that bright and funny hawk you once knew." He tussled her head with his fingers.
Cream smiled, drinking in every word Storm said. "Thank you, Mr. Storm!"
The albatross gave a reassuring smile. He gave me a salute before flying off.
"Wait, Storm!" I shouted.
Storm flew back. "Yeah? Now what?" His tone was vibrating with annoyance.
"Where you headed?"
"Don't know, but just follow us. Where we go, you'll probably be needed, guys."
Sonic nodded. "Be right behind you."
Nodding, Storm asked if there were any more questions. No one said anything, so Storm just flew off. Screaming could be heard from the airship about Storm's tardiness, and it wasn't Wave yelling.
"I'll take it that voice is Jet's?" Sonic asked, knowing the answer.
I didn't reply, just stared at the mural.
Knuckles patted my shoulder. "Buck up, kiddo. I'm sure everything will turn out just fine and okay."
Fine. Ok. Buck up. Words of consolation. Words I didn't need. Pulses of energy were flowing through me. Jet was in dire trouble. That Ark of the Cosmo was beginning to control from start to finish. Hell, if I don't know, things will turn out badly, and things always turn out badly. Especially when someone you love...Nevermind. It isn't revelant until later. Ha ha, I bet your wondering what'll happen! Too bad! I ain't telling!
Sonic consolidated us together. "Alright guys and girls, Storm said to follow them so we might as well."
"If he doesn't tell, that is," Knuckles inquired, looking quite angried by the fact Storm tried to help.
"I'm sure Storm meant what he said," Amy reasoned, punching Knuckles on the shoulder.
"He's Storm!" I added. "He'll never lie whenever something goes wrong with Boss!"
"Boss?"
"Um, I-I mean Jet."
"-cough-MiniStorm-cough"
"Shut up, Knuckles! No one loves you!"
From the other side of the canyon, Rouge's voice could be heard. "LOVE YOU KNUCKIE BABE!"
"Weird," Tails muttered, staring at the other side of the canyon.
Knuckles' face blended with his fur, but I could see a smile underneath it all.
"Wow, Knuckles, you really got it made," Sonic muttered.
"You can have me, Sonikuu!" Amy cried, latching onto Sonic.
With a bright red face, Sonic yelled, "Come on! Let's go catch up!" He grabbed his Extreme Gear and began after the Babylon Rogues and Eggman.
"Get back!" Amy shouted, chasing him on her own Gear.
Next: A Light at the End
Babylon Sky Hawk had this idea that his version of an evil Jet, known as Shadow Jet, be in the story. And I had no idea how to end the story without converting Jet back to normal. Thanks man!
Another thing, I got MCAS (the Massachusetts state test) for three days this week for English so expect lateness as I study like crazy for this week! Bye!